Fusible link



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M. K. HOPKINS.

FUSIBLE LINK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I919.

1,41 6,7 1 3. 4 Patented May 23, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

. M. K. HOPKINS.

FUSIBLE LINK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, l-9l9.

Patented May 23, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rnr entice noa'ron K. HOPKINS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Assrenon TO JOHN L. KENNEDY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FUSIBLE LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23,

T 0 all MILO??? it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTON K. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fusible Links, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as fusible links, which under normal conditions are adapted to securely connect cooperating parts or mechanisms, but under abnormal conditions will release the same. Devices of this kind are used for many purposes, but are particularly desirable and generally used in automatic sprinkler heads, and my improved link is peculiarly adapted for that use, but obviously may be used wherever found desirable.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described that is simple and economical in construction, thoroughly efiicient and satisfactory, as well as durable in use.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a face View of my improved link;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the link shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged on line 55 of Fig. 4;

-Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the several parts of the links separated to more clearly illustrate their construction and assembling;

Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of the link illustrating the position of the parts at the moment they are released from one another in the operation of the device;

Fig. 8 is an inside face view of one of the plates of a slightly modified form; and

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal. sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

sectional View taken the plate 2 All the drawings show tion, but without the accompanying solder.

In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to T inclusive, my improved device consists of but three cooperating parts, to-wit, the two cover pieces and the key cooperating therewith. These cover pieces may, if preferred, be stamped from suitable material so as to be wholly integral in each instance, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, or they may be constructed by laying one piece upon another and riveting them together, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, as will be more particularly mentioned hereafter.

l, 2 represent the side cover or face plates adapted to be placed face to face to form a suitable cell or cavity 3 between them. In the form shown, this cell preferably is T- shaped, and with one of the arm spaces of the T slightly elongated as at 1, so that the key will under all circumstances be prop-- erly positioned therein. 5 is a cooperating key provided with a transverse cross arm 6, 7, the latter being elongated to cooperate with the elongated part 4: of the cell. 8 the stem of the said key, serving to keep the key in proper alignment and a guide as the parts release.

The key is also provided with a somewhat inclined or beveled face 9 extending rearwardly from the stem 8 to provide clearance space, while opposite said inclined face, the bearing face, as at 10. is preferably suitably reduced to cooperate with the reduced bea ing face 11 of the cell. The face 11 is pref erably comparatively slight in depth, affording just sufficient engagement of the key therewith to maintain the operable cooperative engagement of the parts when suitably connected with the solder in the usual manner: that is to say. enough to sufficiently afford a positive locking effect between said face 11 and the face 10 of the key. An inclined part 12 extends from the seat 11 to the face of the plate 2.

The several parts are readily assembled. The key 5 is placed within the cell 3 of the plate 2 as illustrated, the arm 7 being positioned in the extension of thecell 4:, the seat 10 of the key in contact with the seat 11 of the plate. The plate 1 is then placed upon with the key in position as stated, and the two connected with solder of suitable character in the usual manner. In the the parts in posi preferred construction, studs 13 on the meeting faces of the two plates serve to slightly space them from one another so as to reliably receive solder between them.

In order that the meeting face of the two plates may be protected from corrosion, calcimine, or anything of that sort in actual use, it will be noted that the plates are each provided with a projecting outer portion 1% extending clear about the same, so that when they are brought together, a channel 15 is formed clear around the joint of the two mating plates, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6. This channel is preferably filled flush with the outer edges of the part L1 with solder, thus effectively protecting the joint between the two plates, as stated.

lVhen the device is in use, the strain is in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 7. When the temperature reaches a point where the solder releases, and the plates are pulled longitudinally in opposite directions, the upper end wall of the recess in plate 1 engaging the upper end portion of the key 5 at one side thereof, and the stem 8 of the key 5 at one side bearing against the face of the plate 2, acts to turn the key, as indicated in Fig. 7, the shoulder 10 moving laterally over the edge of the seat 11 and down the incline 12, the stem 8 of the key serving to force the two plates apart.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the same construction and operation is attained, With the exception that the extension plate 14c is constructed separately from its cooperating part 16, and the two are riveted as at 17. Obviously the operation is the same.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A fusible link comprising mating plates each provided with a recess which when the plates are placed face to face one upon the other provide a key cell between them, in combinatlon with a cooperating key adapted to loosely seat in the cell formed by the recesses, the walls of the key and recesses having cooperating surfaces including a surface on the wall of one of the plates extending at r1ght angles to the faces of the plates, and an ad acent inclined face whereby as the plates are moved longitudinally one upon the other the key will disengage from the key cell. V

2. 'A fusible link comprising mating plates .each having a recess which when the plates including a surface on one of the parts exare placed face to face one upon the other provide a T-shaped key cell between them, in combination with a cooperating T-shaped key adapted to loosely seat in said key cell, the transverse arm parts of the key and corresponding transverse walls of the recesses having cooperating surfaces, and the longi tudinal stem portion of the key extending beyond said cooperating surfaces between the plates, whereby as the plates are moved longitudinally one upon the other the key will disengage from the key cell.

3. A fusible link comprising mating plates each having a recess which when the plates are placed face to face one upon the other provide a key cell between them, in combination with a cooperating key constructed to loosely seat in said key cell, the walls of the key and recesses having cooperating surfaces tending at right angles to the side faces of the plates, and an adjacent inclined surface, and said key having an inclined face at one end thereof, whereby as the plates are moved longitudinally one upon the other the key will disengage from the key cell.

41. A fusible link comprising mating plates each having a T-shaped recess, which when the plates are placed face to face one upon the other provide a T-shaped key cell be tween them, the opposing transverse parts of the T shaped recesses of the respective plates at one side of the recesses being larger than that at the opposite side thereof, in combina tion with a cooperating T -shaped key constructed to loosely seat in said key cell, one transverse part of the key being larger than the other to correspond with the enlarged transverse parts of the'T-shaped recesses of the plates, and the walls of the key and recesses having cooperating surfaces, whereby as the platesare moved longitudinally one upon the otherthe key will disengage from the key cell. V

5. A fusible link comprising mating plates 110 each having a recess which when the plates are placed face to face one upon the other provide a key cell between them in combina tion with a cooperating key constructed to loosely seat in said key cell,the walls of the 115 key and recesses having cooperating surfaces whereby as the plates are moved longitudinally one upon the other the key will disengage from the key cell, said plates being provided with projecting marginal portions on the outer faces thereof to pro vide a solder channel when the plates are placed together. a g

link comprising mating plates 6. Afusible each having a recess which when the plates are placed face to face one upon the otherprovide a key cell between them in combina tion with a cooperating key constructed to loosely seat in said key cell, the walls of the key and recesses having cooperating .sur-

faces whereby as the plates are moved longitudinally one upon the other the key Will disengage from the key cell, said plates being provided with marginal portions offset from the inner faces of the plates to provide a solder channel when the plates are placed together.

7. A fusible link comprising mating plates each provided with a recess which when the plates are placed face to face one upon the other provide a key cell between them, in combination with a cooperating key adapted to loosely seat in the cell formed by the recesses, the Walls of the key and recesses having cooperating surfaces including a surface extending at right angles to the faces of the plates, and an adjacent inclined face where by as the plates are moved longitudinally one upon the other the key will disengage from the key cell.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MORTON K. HOPKINS. 

